Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-04

4
Like a cyclone on the sea,
When the lightnings bazed and dazzled
And the thunders were set free
And riding on the whirlwind came
Majestic Robert Lee
Who-again ! ask the question
Who may challenge IN debate,
With any show of truthfulness,
Our former social state
Which brought forth more than heroes
In their lives supremely great
Not Peter the wild Crusader
When bent upon his knee,
Not Arther and his belted knights
In the Poets Song could be
More earnest than those Southern men
Who followed Robert Lee.
They thought that they were right, and this
Was hammered into those
Who held that crest all drenched In blood
Where the "Bloody Angle" rose.
As for all else 1t passes by
As the idle wind that blows.
III.
Then stand up, oh, my Countrymenl
And unto God give thanks,
On mountains. and on hillsldes,
And by sloping river banks
Thank God that yOu were worthy
OF the grand Confederate ranks;
That YOU who came from uplands
And from beside the sea.
Filled with love Of Old Virginia
And the teachings of the free,
May boast in sight of all men
That you followed Robert Lee.
Peace has come. God give His blessing
On the fact and on the name
The South speaks no invective
And she writes no word of blame;
But we call all men to witness
That we stand up without shame
Nay Send it forth TO all the word
That we stand up here with pride,
With love for our living comrades
And with praise for those who died;
And this manly frame of mind
Till death we will abide.
God and our cOnsciences alone
Give measures Of right and wrong.
The race may fall unto the swift
And the battle TO the strong;
But the truth will shine in history
Auu DioH'Oh ihAv sung
Human grief full oft by glory
Is assuaged and disappears
When its requiem swells with music
Like the shock Of shields and spears,
And its passion is too full Of pride
To leave a space for tears.
And hence to-day, my Countrymen,
We come, with undimmed eyes,
In homage of the hero Lee,
The good, the great, the wise
And at his name our hearts will leap
Till his last old soldier dies.
Ask me, if you please, to paint
Stormwinds upon the sea;
Tell me TO weigh great Cheops-
Set volcanic forces free
But bid me not, my Countrymen,
To picture Robert Lee !
As Saul, bound for Damascus fair,
Was struck blind by sudden light,
SO my eyes are panied and dazzled
BY a radiance pure and white
Shot back by the FURNISHED armor
OF that glory-belted Knight.
His was all the Normans polish
And sobriety Of grace
All the Goth's majestic figure
All the Romans noble face;
And he stood the tall examplar
OF grand, historic race.
Baronial were his acres where
PotOmac's waters run;
High his lineage, and his blaEon
Was by cunning heralds done;
But better still he might have said
OF his "works" he was the "son.'
Truth walked beside him always
From his childhood's early years.
Honor followed as his shadow,
Valor lightened all his cares
And he rode-that grand Virginian-
Last of all the Cavaliers
As soldier we all knew HIM
Great in action and repose,
Saw how his genius kindled
And his mighty spirit rose
When the four quarters of the globe
EncOmpassed him with foes.
But he and his grew brayer
As the danger grew more rife,
Avarcious they of glory
But most prodigal of life.
And the "Army Of Virginia
Was the Atlas Of the strife.
As his troubles gathered round him,
Thick as waves that beat the shore
ATRA CURA rode behind him
Famine's shadow filed his door;
Still he wrought deeds no mortal man
Had ever wrought before.